Stranger Things Season 2: What We Know

Stranger Things is a phenomenon that truly seemed to appear out of nowhere. Summer 2016 was drumming along and all of the sudden one sheets and images started to appear. They were old looking, yet they were new and they unabashedly recalled the great horror and sci-fi films from the 1980s. In a word, this show seemed perfect.

And there was no way this show could live up to the hype, right? Wrong. Sure, there are always going to be some people that feel that a "love-letter to the 1980s" is derivative. At the same time, I don't think it's too far fetched to say that even the most beloved 80s films were derived from something before.

Ultimately, the consensus was that audiences and critics loved it. With it's classic 80s tropes of caste systems, kids knowing the truth while adults are in the dark, monsters...And some odd place called The Upside Down, Stranger Things is a show 80s aficionados have been waiting for. Though the show is meant to be dated, the characters, the storyline (what are the people at Hawkins Lab trying to hide?), and the adventure are firmly set in November, 1983.

With Netflix backer Reed Hastings saying it would be "stupid" not to renew Stranger Things, any began to wonder what Season 2 will bring. As we near the launch date for new episodes, quite a bit has come to light about the returning binge-favorite. In today's internet age, the playing field is leveled and we all know that we don't have to settle for secrets. To quote the 80s, hardcore band the Cro-Mags, "We gotta know!"

And this is precisely why we've compiled this list. We've meticulously gone through all the stories about Season 2 and separated fact from fiction. So it is without further adieu that we tell you everything we know about Stranger Things Season 2.

Stranger Things Season 2 Premiere Date

While Stranger Things Season 1 debuted in the summer of 2016, fans have to wait a little longer for new episodes. It was first revealed that Stranger Things Season 2 was set to premiere over Halloween weekend 2017. A more precise release date was announced for October 27, with all episodes available to stream at midnight. This will surely make Stranger Things Season 2 one of this fall's biggest releases.

Eleven Will Return

It has often been reported that Eleven won't fully return until episode 7. But the most recent trailers and clips suggest it could happen soon, as fans are eager to see Eleven return from the Upside Down, where she has been trapped since she sacrificed herself at the end of Stranger Things season one. Deadline was the first to announced that new stars Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery (as well as Joe Keery and Noah Schapp) will join series stars Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin. They were also the first to unveil Millie Bobby Brown's return, who'd recently signed with WME in a very competitive situation. It was later confirmed by a table read photo that Eleven is officially returning, despite some fans believing her to be dead forever. This is excellent news because of all the things we knew about this show, not knowing the exact fate of Eleven was killing us. As we mentioned above, who in the world would Hopper have been giving food to (Eggos, no less!) in the woods if he's wasn't giving it to Eleven? Her return makes sense because she seemed to give up her life in order to destroy the dreaded Demagorgon. Yet, there were other times in Stranger Things Season One where she seemed sapped by her powers and she survived. I know the Demagorgon is on a whole other level, but if anyone could survive that, it would be Eleven. So what might be happening with her now? Will she still be in jeopardy? Might the boys who helped her, now that things have gotten back to normal (well, as normal as they can for Hawkins), want to sign up for another season of action? Wouldn't seeing her trigger memories or even signal that they must again return to the Upside Down? Could this Eleven be clone? Only seen in flashbacks? However Eleven comes, she does have a new look, and hair this time. She's been seen rocking a perm that is very reminiscent of Ellen Ripley in Aliens.

The Main Cast Will Return

Yes, you read that right. Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton will all be returning. As the events from the first season are still close at hand, audiences will be happy to see how these characters have evolved one year later. Have Joyce (Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) grown closer? Have Mike and his friends grown apart as can sometime happen as youths get older? Might this be a storyline and somehow they get drawn together? The big question is the character of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). At the end of Stranger Things Season 1, we saw Hopper leaving food for someone in the woods. The first thought is that it is probably Eleven? Hopefully, Stranger Things Season 2 answers enough of these questions to satisfy its rabid fan base.

Will Byers is Becoming a Monster

Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, the young boy from Hawkins, Indiana who was trapped in the Upside Down, didn't have much to do in the first 8 episodes, even though the entire story revolved around him. The young actor is coming back in a big way, though, and has been promoted to series regular for Stranger Things Season 2. But this won't be the Will his friends all know and love. In an interview, Will teased that he will be going through some growing pains, and puberty might not be so kind. He says, "I threw up a slug, so Season 2 begins with what happens from there. There may have been some effect on him. I may or may not have turned into a monster. You'll have to watch to find out." He may not be the only one turning into a monster. There is some speculation that Eleven may also be transforming into a Demogorgon-monster.